In 1866 Gray described the ornate titi monkey, Callicebus ornatus, as having the “fur black and grey, punctuated; forehead and ears white; temple, cheeks, throat, underside of body, and inner side of the legs bright red chestnut; hands and feet grey; tail black, grey-washed; hair of tail pale, with a broad sub terminal ring”. The type specimen was collected by Verreaux in Colombia.

Although the type specimens were first identified as C. discolor, it is generally accepted that Callicebus ornatus is a valid species, endemic to Colombia.